The Pillow Book: Series 1-11 Audiobook By Robert Forrest cover art

The Pillow Book: Series 1-11

A Full-Cast Historical Crime Drama

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The Pillow Book: Series 1-11

By: Robert Forrest
Narrated by: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cal MacAninch, full cast, Mark Bazeley, Ruth Gemmell
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A thriller and love story set in 10th-century Japan.

Lady Shonagon is an imperial courtesan, living at the court of the Japanese Emperor in the 10th century. When a series of disturbing thefts within the palace walls throws the court into confusion and unrest, Shonagon is appointed guide and assistant to Lieutenant Yukinari as he investigates.

Together, Shonagon and Yukinari must solve the mysteries and escalating crimes that plague the Japanese court, and their romance blossoms in the tightly enclosed world behind the high palace walls. But soon Shonagon's lover Tadanobu becomes uncomfortable with how closely they are working together....

The Pillow Book is inspired by the writings of Sei Shonagon, a poet and lady-in-waiting to the empress of the 10th-century Japanese court. The work of the real-life Sei Shonagon consists of essays, lists, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages about her daily life.

This full-cast drama stars Ruth Gemmell as Sei Shonagon, with Yukinari played by Mark Bazeley in series 1-3 and Cal Macaninch in series 4-11. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Tadanobu in series 1.

Directed by Lu Kemp.

©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Historical Thriller & Suspense Mystery Fiction
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I'm sad that I won't be able to find another book as charming as this one. and the voice acting is great.

New favorite book! I'll listen to it again!

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The story and the cast are superb, and the prose is an ethereal delight. Ruth Gemmell is a triumph.

Sublime.

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The book is great up to chapter twenty something. Each chapter begins with musings that could come from the real "Pillow book" and that are interesting and witty and the plots are nice to and pleasant to listen but the chapters from twenty onwards are too contrived to be enjoyable with the notable exception of the final ones. In the least episode the Palace Lady's life takes an interesting turn and the story becomes much more interesting, at least as far as she is concerned, I find the other brother persona far-fetched and, as a consequence, boring.

Too much of a good thing.

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Great story, great actors, horrible sound engineering... One minute loud, next minute unintelligible whispers

Beautiful story, horrible sound engineering

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A mystery, a love story, a comedy of manners and a window into the different pace of courtly life. Slow and enthralling.

Magical story

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A BBC dramatisation of a historical work. Remarkable voices: Empress Taisho (a very enticing voice), Emperor (voice changes as he ages) and wolf girl.
Japanese names mostly unbrutalised. Only thing is "come by" (かんばい ) sword wich should be pronounced as "cum-bah-i". Like kampai (cheers) with a "b". The word means "plum blossom viewing". During my brief search online I didn't find a famous maker of old associated with the name.
Also some European influences present that were not in Japan. Like horse drawn cart and vine. Horses were bred for cavalry and carts/waggons/carriages were for war purposes only. Much later, in Tokugawa period they even required signed paper work in order to move them and not start a war at the same time. Shonagon could not ride a cart to her brother's. Rather a palanquine with a procession of "porters".
The wine (not sake) was introduced through the Portuguese later.
Very well writen. I gave it full ranking. I do recommend. :)

Remarkable dramatisation

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I have read, and taught the original work, The Pillow Book of Sei Shonogan, and I enjoyed this fictional take; but why use British actors rather than Japanese? Was jaring and felt appropriative.

British voices in an ancient Japanese story? Why??

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After reading the short description I thought this would be a crime drama. I did not find this to be true. Certainly, there were crimes, but this was written as a bit of history, not with the crime as a central theme. To me, this novel was a romantic espionage and period piece. It is fascinating and well narrated. As for the romance, the actors were so into their parts that I felt like a peeping Tom.

Fabulous historic romance novel

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